Twin illumination type headlight

ABSTRACT

A vehicle headlight includes a main reflector having a secondary reflector mounted therein for movement about vertical and horizontal axes, the movement about a vertical axis being carried out by a remote control transmission either manually or by linkage to the steering of the vehicle.

United States Patent Puyplat [451 Apr. 15, 1975 [5 TWIN ILLUMINATION TYPE HEADLIGHT 1514.869 11/1924 Solosabal et a1 240 411,

[75] n e or: Oivier yp m, a France 3,622.778 11/1971 C1b1e 240/4125 X [73] Assignee: Cibie Projecteurs, Bobigny, France Primary ExaminerRiehard M. Sheer {221 Filed' 1974 Attorney, Agent, or FirmBreitenfeld & Levine [21] Appl. No.: 455,478

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 11, 1973 France 73713060 [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl. 240/4135 A; 240/41.6 A vehicl hea ligh includes a main reflector having a [51] Int. Cl. F21r 13/04 ndary reflector mounted therein for movement [58] Field of Search ,4 240/44, 44,1, 6L2, 6L6, about vertical and horizontal axes, the movement 240/6l.7, 61,8. 4L6, 4125, 41,35 H about a vertical axis being carried out by a remote control transmission either manually or by linkage to [56] References Cited the steering of the vehicle.

UNITED STATES PATENTS l 1/1922 Gritzmacher .0 240/6l.7

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures I TWIN ILLL'MINATION TYPE HEADLIGHT BACKGROLND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to motor vehicle headlights. more particularly twin illumination type headlights adapted to produce a medium range dipped beam or a long range main beam.

Twin illumination type headlights are either of the kind comprising a double-tilament lamp associated with a single parabolic reflector. the filaments of the lamp being disposed respectively in front of and behind the focus of the reflector. or of the kind comprising two separate light sources respectively associated with a main reflector and a secondary reflector disposed within the former. In prior art headlights of the latter kind as a rule the secondary reflector is retained on the main reflector by means of an attachment enabling the inclination of the optical axis of the secondary reflector to be slightly modified in relation to the optical axis of the main reflector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the in\ention to provide a headlight of the second kind referred to above. in which the secondary reflector can he pivotably controlled from outside the main reflector so that. for instance. the orienta tion of the light beam reflected by the secondary reflector (the main beam) can be controlled by the orientation of the vehicle drive wheels.

According to the present invention a headlight for a motor vehicle comprises a first light source associated with a main reflector. a second light source associated with a secondary reflector disposed within the main reflector and mounted to pivot in relation to the main reflector to which it is connected via a pivotable connection having a substantially vertical axis. and a transmission mechanism so associated with the secondary reflector as to allow the remote control of the orientation of the optical axis of the second reflector in relation to the optical axis of the main reflector around said vertical axis.

According to an important secondary feature of the invention. the pivotahle connection allows a limited angular movement around a horizontal axis between the optical axes of the reflectors. and a link of adjustable length is provided between the reflectors so as to allow the inclination of the optical axis of the secondary re lector relatively to the optical axis of the main reflector to be modified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way ofesample. with reference to the accompanying drawings. in what:

FIG. I is an exploded perpcctive view with parts removed. illustrating the various elements. before assembly. of a headlight according to the invention. and.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing the pivotal connection between the two reflectors of the headlight.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The drawings show a motor vehicle twin illumination type headlight It] mainly made up of a metal casing 12 having on the inside a main parabolical reflector I4 which. in the embodiment shown is simply defined by the inner reflecting surface of the metal casing 12. The headlight also comprises a front lens (not shown) suitably attached to a rabbet [6 on the edge of the opening of the casing I2. and a main light source formed. for in stance. by a single filament lamp I9 mounted within the main reflector I4 by a suitable lamp holder (not shownl attached by any known means in a cylindrical aperture I8 in the end of the casing 12.

The headlight III also comprises a secondary reflector 20 made. for instance. of moulded plastics. and hat ing an inner reflecting surface 22 in the form of a paraboloid of revolution. and a second light source. such as a single filament lamp 24. mounted by any known means within the reflector 20.

The reflector 20 and its associated lamp 24 are disposed inside the main reflector 14 and generate a long range light beam (main beam] of the headlight. the main reflector I4 defining with the light source I) associated therewith the generation of the medium range light (dipped beam) of the headlight.

The main beam assembly formed by the reflector 20 and its lamp 24 is mounted to pivot around a substantially vertical axis V in relation to the main reflector I4 to which the main beam assembly is connected by a pivotal connection generally indicated at 26.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated the connection 26 between the assembly 20 Z4 and the reflector I4 is defined by the cooperation of a vertical rod 28 projecting downwards from a bottom web 30 of the reflector 20. within an aperture 32 in the bottom web 34 of the reflector I4. A retaining link is also provided to retain the secondary reflector 20 in a predetermined position in relation to the main reflector I4. in the direction of the axis V of the rod 28. The retaining link between the reflectors I4 and 20 is preferably produced by disposing therehetween a resilient member 36 tpositioned beneath the reflector I4) and adapted to urge the secondary reflector 20 downwards towards the bottom web 34 of the main reflector l4. in the direction of the axis V of the rod 28.

As shown. the resilient member 36 is formed by a W- shaped resilient strip whose central portion 38 is attached to the free lower end of the rod 28 by any known means such as. for instance. being brought into abutment by clipping a splayed head 40 at the end of the rod 28 into a suitable aperture 42 in such central portion 38. the two arms 44 of spring 36 hearing against the underside of the lower web 34. The secondary reflector 20 is caused to abut the web 34 by giving the secondary reflector at least one positioning stop which is adapted to cooperate with the web 34 to define the relative position along the vertical axis V of the secondary reflector 20 in relation to the main reflector 14. In the embodiment illustrated this positioning stop is defined by two parallel spaced out bosses 46 moulded in one piece with the reflector 20 to project downwards from the lower web 30 of the reflector 20 in a direction substantially parallel with that of the rod 28 and lying within a single vertical plane containing the axis V.

The reflector 20 is preferably caused to bear against the reflector 14 under the force of the resilient strip 36 via the agency of a mobile bearing element 48 interposed between the bosses 46 and the inner face of the bottom web 34. Each boss 46 extends into a flared recess in the element 48 comprising a downwardly extending projection 52 adapted to abut the inner face of the web 34. Preferably the projections 52 are produced simultaneously with the stamping of the recesses 50.

The element 48 is also formed with a central aperture 54 through which the rod 28 extends. so that the element 48 can pivot around the substantially vertical axis of such rod.

A transmission mechanism 56 is pro\ided to allow the remote control of the pivoting of the secondary reflector 20in relation to the reflector 14 around the \crtical axis Y. The mechanism 56 may he associated either with a manual control tnot shown) or if necessary with the steering gear of the vehicle drive wheels. It is connected directly to the reflector Ztl. either to the pivot 28 or. as illustrated. by connection to the bearing element 48. since rotation of the latter around the axis simultaneously rotates the secondary reflector 20 as a result of the bosses 46 being arranged in the recesses 50. A transmission mechanism 56 ofthis kind can comprise a traction element. such as a cable or rod 58 extending through an aperture 60 of the reflector [4 to be attached to the element 48. in which case a return spring 62 is provided between the element 48 and a lug 64 attached to the web 34 to urge the element 48 and the reflector 20 in the direction opposite from that which would result from a traction force exerted on the cable 58. The cooperation of the traction of the cable 58 and the opposite return force exerted by the spring 62. in cooperation with the abutment of the projections 52 against the web 34. enables the element 48 to be kept in a substantially horizontal plane parallel with a general plane of the web 34.

To enable the rotation of the optical axis of the secondary reflector 20 around a horizontal axis to be adjusted in relation to the optical axis of the main reflector l4. a suitable abutting link of adjustable length. such as a screwthread link 66 is provided between the two reflectors I4. 20 and displaced from the pivoting axis the apertures 32. 54 being ofsufficient diameter to allow a limited angular movement of the pivot 28 and therefore of the reflector 20 on either side of the \ertical axis V. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. the abutting link of adjustable length 66 is disposed between the extension 68 on the secondary reflector 20 and the web 34. the latter being formed with an o en ing 70 for the introduction of a suitable tool. such as a screw driver. enabling the length of such abutting link 66 and therefore the inclination of the optical axis of the reflector 20 relatively to the optical axis of the reflector 14 to be modified. The play provided between bosses 46 and recesses 50 allows the above modifying of the inclination of the reflector axis eventhough the bearing element 48 may be considered as in a fixed plane due to the mechanism 56.

In another embodiment (not shown). the abutting link 66 is provided between the secondary reflector 20 and the bearing element 48. although it must be understood that mcans as described above must in that case be pro\ided to make the bearing element 48 stay horizontal to enable such an adjustment to be performed.

The arrangement illustrated and described hereinbefore of the bearing element 48 between the reflectors 20 and [4 allows a very precise separation between the two pivoting movements of the secondary reflector 20 in relation to the main reflector 14; thus.

1, A first pi\oting around the substantially vertical axis under the force of the cable 58 and the spring 62. This pivoting is dealt with by the element 48 on its own.

ltl

I. A second pivoting around a substantially horizontal axis so as to enable the inclination of the optical axis of reflector [4. This second pivoting. made possible by the cooperation of the bosses 46 with the recesses 50 in the support 48 and by inherent play in the connecting link 26 resulting from the cooperation between the rod 28 and the aperture 32. is performed as a result of the link of adjustable length 66 positioned between the reflector 20 and the web 34.

Of course. the in\ cation is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated. Many modifications can be made thereto without exceeding the scope of the application. More particularly. the pivoting link 28 32 46 52 can be replaced by a simple swivel joint connection coaxial with the pivot 28. between the reflector 20 and the reflector l4. in which case the force produced by the resilient member 36 is advantageously retained. The element 48 might be eliminated. in which case the mechanism 56 would be directly connected to the reflector 20.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A motor vehicle headlight comprising:

a main reflector having a horizontal web portion with an aperture therein. a first light source within said main reflector.

a secondary reflector positioned within said main reflector. a second light source within said secondary reflector.

a vertically extending rod projecting from the secondary reflector and passing through the aperture in the web portion of the main reflector. the rod defining a substantially vertical pivot axis about which the secondary reflector is pivotable with re spect to the main reflector.

resilient retaining means engaging the rod for resiliently biasing the secondary reflector. in the direction of the pivot axis. into engagement with the web portion of the main reflector.

a transmission mechanism connected to the secondary reflector for transmitting movements from a remote source to the secondary reflector to pivot the latter about the pivot axis; and

a link of adjustable length between the main and sec ondary reflectors for adjusting the inclination of the secondary reflector. about a horizontal axis. with respect to the web portion of the main reflector.

2. A motor vehicle headlight according to claim I in which the resilient retaining means includes a W- shaped resilient member secured at its central portion to the free end of the rod. the free ends of the resilient member engaging the outer surface of the main reflec tor web portion.

3. A motor vehicle headlight according to claim I in which a pair of spaced-apart vertically extending bosses project from the secondary reflector into engagement with the web portion of the main reflector. the free ends of the bosses being slidable with respect to the web portion about the pivot axis.

4. A motor vehicle headlight according to claim 3 including a bearing element interposed between the bosses and the w eb portion of the main reflector. the bearing element being pivotable in a substantially hori zontal plane about the pivot axis. and wherein the link of adjustable length is disposed between the secondary reflector and the bearing element.

lit

6 which the transmission mechanism comprises a cable extending through an aperture in the main reflector. the cable be attached to the bearing element for pivoting the latter about the pivot axis. and resilient return means for constantly urging the bearing element to pivot in one direction about the pivot axis. 

1. A motor vehicle heAdlight comprising: a main reflector having a horizontal web portion with an aperture therein, a first light source within said main reflector, a secondary reflector positioned within said main reflector, a second light source within said secondary reflector, a vertically extending rod projecting from the secondary reflector and passing through the aperture in the web portion of the main reflector, the rod defining a substantially vertical pivot axis about which the secondary reflector is pivotable with respect to the main reflector, resilient retaining means engaging the rod for resiliently biasing the secondary reflector, in the direction of the pivot axis, into engagement with the web portion of the main reflector, a transmission mechanism connected to the secondary reflector for transmitting movements from a remote source to the secondary reflector to pivot the latter about the pivot axis; and a link of adjustable length between the main and secondary reflectors for adjusting the inclination of the secondary reflector, about a horizontal axis, with respect to the web portion of the main reflector.
 2. A motor vehicle headlight according to claim 1 in which the resilient retaining means includes a W-shaped resilient member secured at its central portion to the free end of the rod, the free ends of the resilient member engaging the outer surface of the main reflector web portion.
 3. A motor vehicle headlight according to claim 1 in which a pair of spaced-apart vertically extending bosses project from the secondary reflector into engagement with the web portion of the main reflector, the free ends of the bosses being slidable with respect to the web portion about the pivot axis.
 4. A motor vehicle headlight according to claim 3 including a bearing element interposed between the bosses and the web portion of the main reflector, the bearing element being pivotable in a substantially horizontal plane about the pivot axis, and wherein the link of adjustable length is disposed between the secondary reflector and the bearing element.
 5. A motor vehicle headlight according to claim 4 in which the bearing element has a pair of recesses adapted to receive the pair of bosses projecting from the secondary reflector so that the secondary reflector and bearing element pivot together about the pivot axis, the transmission mechanism being directly connected to the bearing element.
 6. A motor vehicle headlight according to claim 5 in which the transmission mechanism comprises a cable extending through an aperture in the main reflector, the cable be attached to the bearing element for pivoting the latter about the pivot axis, and resilient return means for constantly urging the bearing element to pivot in one direction about the pivot axis. 